Wire-tightening implement



J. M. WEST.

WIRE 'TIGHTBNING IMPLEMENT.

(No Model.)

No. 548,103. Patented Oct. 15,1895.

mzziwr PATENT EEicE,

JAMES M. WEST, OF RICE, TEXAS.

WIRE-TIGHTENING IMPLEMENT.

Application filed April 2, 1895. Serial No. 644,177. (lt'o model.)

QPECIFIC-A-TION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,103, datedOctober 15, 1895.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES M. WEST, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rice, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Wire-Tightening Implements, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a new and improved handimplement for tightening or taking up slack in fence-wires strung onfence-posts by forming loops or twists of the required dimensions in thewires.

To accomplish this object my invention consists, essentially, in awire-tightening implement composed of two handles pivoted together andprovided with jaws having flat opposing faces, each formed with aplurality of transverse approximately parallel grooves of differentlength, the grooves in the fiat face of one jaw registering with thegrooves in the fiat face of the other jaw, and each jaw having its sidesconverging to apoint at its outer extremity, one side being convex andthe other side concave, the construction being such that the pluralityof grooves, in connection with the peculiar form of the jaws, renders itpossible to form loops of different dimensions in the fence-wires, aswill more fully hereinafter appear.

The invention'is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wiretightening implement or toolconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom planView of one of the jaws. Fig. 3 is a plan view looking at the inside ofone of thejaws; and Fig 4 is adetail view of a loop made by theimplement or tool.-

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use my inventionIwill now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings,wherein the numerals 1 and 2 indicate two handles, formed integral atone end portion with jaws 3 and 4 and at the other end portions withoppositely-proj ecting lever portions 5 and 6, which facilitate therotation of the implement in acting on a fencewire to form a looptherein, as will hereinafter appear.

The handles 1 and 2 are provided, in proximity to thejaws 3 and 4,Withorifices through which a pivot-pin 9 passes for the purpose of pivotallyconnecting the handles in a manner similar to ordinary wire-tighteningimplements of the type to which my invention relates.

The jaws 3 andd are each constructed with rounded sides 10 and 12, whichconverge from the base or inner end portion 13 of the jaw to the pointedouter end or extremity 14:. The opposing faces of the two jaws areperfectly flat, so that when the jaws are closed the flat face of one isadapted to bear squarely against the fiat face of the other. The flatfaces of the jaws are each formed with a plurality of grooves 15, 16,and 17, which gradually diminish in length toward the pointed end orextremity of the jaw. The grooves are concave throughout theirlength,and the grooves 15, 16, and 17 in the fiat faceof one jaw register,respectively, with the grooves 15, 16, and 17 in the flat face of theother jaw, in such manner that if the two jaws are placed upon afence-wire, so that the latter lies coincident with the grooves 15, andthe two jaws are closed by properly operating the handles 1 and 2, thewire will be firmly gripped, and then, by axially rotating the implementthrough the medium of the portions 5 and 6,

the fence-wire will be coiled around the exterior of the two jaws; Theimplement is drawn in a direction to remove it from the coiled portionsof the wires, and the gripped part of the wire will be drawn outward, sothat a loop is formed with a twisted neck, thereby tightening thefence-wire and taking up slack that may exist therein.

The grooves in the flat faces of the two jaws are made of differentlength, and the rounded sides 10 and 12 of the jaws converge toward thepointed ends or extremities 14, for the purpose of rendering it possibleto form loops of varying dimensions or diameters in the fence-wires. Ifthe fence-wire is first gripped in the grooves 15 a comparatively-largeloop will be formed. If the wire is gripped in the grooves 16 a loop ofsmaller size will be formed, and if the wire is gripped in the grooves17 a loop of still smaller size will be formed.

By the peculiar construction of parts described and shown I am enabledto form loops of varying dimensions or diameters with an implement ortool of very simple construction, and without the presence of spiraljaws having spiral grooves, as heretofore employed in wire-tighteningimplements.

In order to avoid the employment of spirally-grooved spiral jaws, asheretofore employed, I form the rounded opposite side surfaces 10 and 12of each jaw on different radii, and construct the side surface 12 sothat it is convex, while the side surface 10 is concave. The radius ofthe curved side 12 is greater than the radius of the curved side 10, sothat practically a spiral form is given to a jaw of a very simpleconstruction.

The improved implement or tool described and shown is particularlydesigned for tightening or taking up slack in fence-wires strung onfence-posts, but it will also be found useful for connecting or splicingthe ends of broken or other wires.

By the employment of myimproved implement the twisting of' the wire intothe form of a loop can be stopped at any point, because it is notnecessary to twist the wire more than once around the two jaws. I findthat this is advantageous in that it does not damage the wire, and thatconsequently the latter is not liable to break at the twisted point ifthe Wire should ever require to be restretched.

The improved implement is susceptible of making three loops of differentdimensions, thereby taking up different amounts of slack.

In connecting the ends of two wires, one Wire can be laid in one grooveand one in another groove, and then by rotating the implement the twoends of the wires will be twisted together.

A suitable ring or other fastening device may be provided to hold thehandles in gripping position.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A wire tighteningimplement composed of two handle portions pivoted together andterminating in jaws converging to a point at their outer extremities,and having fiat opposing faces, the outer portions on one side of saidjaws being convex and the opposite side portions being concave, and aplurality of transverse grooves arranged upon the fiat faces of thejaws, the grooves in one face registering with those in the oppositeface, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses. V

J ALWIES M. WEST. Witnesses:

A. O. HERVEY, G. R. THORNTON.

